Disobedience: A Novel

By Naomi Alderman

Book Overview

* NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE, STARRING RACHEL WEISZ AND RACHEL MCADAMS *AUTHOR OF ONE OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FAVORITE READS OF 2017 When a young photographer living in New York learns that her estranged father, a well-respected rabbi, has died, she can no longer run away from the truth, and soon sets out for the Orthodox Jewish community in London where she grew up. Back for the first time in years, Ronit can feel the disapproving eyes of the community. Especially those of her beloved cousin, Dovid, her father's favorite student and now an admired rabbi himself, and Esti, who was once her only ally in youthful rebelliousness. Now Esti is married to Dovid, and Ronit is shocked by how different they both seem, and how much greater the gulf between them is. But when old flames reignite and the shocking truth about Ronit and Esti's relationship is revealed, the past and present converge in this award-winning and critically acclaimed novel about the universality of love and faith, and the strength and sacrifice it takes to fight for what you believe in--even when it means disobedience.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743291573
• ISBN13: 9780743291576
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 0.9" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

read this book

This was a book that deserves to be read and reread. The protagonist is a complicated woman who has been on a spiritual journey across years and continents. I learned a lot about the Orthodox Jewish community in London.

Great

I don't usually read novels like this (I'm not sure what genre to assign it) but I loved it.

Interesting

I enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. It discusses lesbianism and Orthodox judaism. How can one be true to oneself and to ones faith? Is it possible to do both? How can we live with our choices? What about parents with different beliefs? How can an Orthodox father relate to a non-Orthodox lesbian child? It is an interesting book about the choices we make and religious faith. I was once a very devout catholic and I find books and novels about fervent believers interesting, especially when they consider GLBT issues. Speaking as a non-jew I believe this book is fairly respectful of Orthodox judaism. I think even those less interested in GLBT issues will find this interesting as a novel whose main subject is the relationship between a father and child. They will also learn more about Orthodox jews and their beliefs and day to day life. I'm making this sound like a dry textbook or treatise but it isn't. It is an interesting, well-written novel whose subjects are those I've mentioned above.

Disobedient with a Cause

Despite a few oversimplistic characterizations of the inhabitants of the provincial world of Hendon Orthodoxy, this book is brilliant. Few authors have captured the struggles of those of us who straddle these contradictory realities. Naomi Alderman has.